Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt to miss wild card playoff game
Watt suffered an MCL sprain
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff spot in the final week of the regular season, but it came at a cost.
T.J. Watt landed awkwardly during their game Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens - he left the game and never returned.
Pittsburgh won, but had to wait until the Jacksonville Jaguars loss on Sunday afternoon to officially make the postseason.
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T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a sack in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium on November 02, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
After the Buffalo Bills won the AFC East later Sunday night, Pittsburgh found out their fate - they'd head to northwest New York as huge underdogs.
Well, their tough battle just got even tougher.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}His older brother, J.J., revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that the "best case" scenario was a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and he would need a "couple weeks" of rest and recovery.
That injury has led the Steelers to announce he will not play in Sunday's wild card playoff game in Buffalo.
T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is looked at by medical staff after an injury during the second half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Playing without T.J. is significant. But, we've played without a lot of people this year," head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, via Yahoo Sports. "This is another opportunity to strike a blow for team."
Watt led the league with 19.0 sacks, becoming the first player in NFL history to have the most sacks three separate times - he also led in 2020 and 2021.
He will probably finish in the top-three of Defensive Player of the Year voting again - he finished third in 2019, second in 2020, and won it in 2021. Watt played in just 10 games last season but was still named a Pro Bowler.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers sacks ra10 during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Watt made his sixth-consecutive Pro Bowl this season, beating his older brother's five.
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